The Battle of Quebec took place on September 13, 1759. The French Army
was led by the Marquis de Montcalm and the English Army by Major-General
James Wolfe.

This was only one battle in what American historians call the "French
and Indian War". The Seven Years' War (1756 - 1763), fought in North
America, is the name used by Canadians and the British to describe the
same war. Three major sieges and subsequent captures by the British were
at Louisbourg (1758), Quebec City (1759), and Montreal (1760).

The siege and capture of Quebec by Major-General James Wolfe was a victory
which determined the matter of French rule in Canada - it changed the destiny
of a continent.

James Wolfe wrote a letter to his uncle while at Louisbourg en route
to Quebec. He remarked that the French would concentrate their major efforts
on Quebec, "as the loss of the capital implies the loss of the colony"(Whitton
p. 245). This prediction, while not entirely correct and though Wolfe did
not live to see it, the loss of Quebec was the major blow to France in
North America.

Quebec City, the only walled city in North America, is situated on the
"rock of Quebec" which is the northeast end of a long, narrow triangular
promontory, to the north of which lies the valley of the St. Charles and
to the south that of the St. Lawrence. The incline on the St. Charles side
is not as steep as the cliffs up from the St. Lawrence. The cliff near
the citadel is 350 feet high and almost vertical. The only access to the
top of the cliff is from steep, narrow trails. On top of the cliffs, at
the east end, sits the fortified city, including the citadel (fort). Cannons
line the walls down towards the St. Charles river. The harbour sits below
the city and thus supplies could reach the city either by road from the
west or boat from Montreal to Quebec via the St. Lawrence River.

Montcalm, the French commander who occupied the city, had blocked entrance
to the St. Charles River and farther eastward, just west of the Montmorency
River and Falls, he had installations and armies. Montcalm expected that
Wolfe would try to attack from the St. Charles River area as this was the
most accessible.

Wolfe did try to attack but the cannons and fortifications between the
Montmorency and St. Charles Rivers did not allow him to land. Between September
3 - 12, Wolfe floated his boats up and down in front of the city several
times. This panicked the French and caused them to constantly be on the
move to protect against an English landing.

On September 12 part of Wolfe's army in boats bombarded the eastern
areas (Beauport) and Montcalm sent many of his troops in response. At the
same time Wolfe and other boats were floating quietly towards the cliffs
up river. While they were challenged by sentinels on shore, Wolfe's men
answered in French and the ruse was successful. They overpowered the guards
and started their ascent up the steep cliff. Wolfe had sighted this path
two days earlier and had planned his attack. A group of first climbers
overpowered and chased off a guard of a hundred men at the top. By sunrise
4500 English soldiers awaited a fight. The battle didn't last long, both
commanders - French and English - died of wounds sustained that day. The
English were victorious and on September 17, 1759 the remaining French
garrison surrendered and the British flag flew above the citadel.

While the battle of Quebec in 1759 was not much more than a clash from
the viewpoint of warfare, it resulted in permanent peace for Canada under
British governance.